Like the iconic palm tree, California bison were brought to the West by Hollywood producers to film Western movies 100 years ago, but they are now becoming extinct on Catalina Island.
It started as a herd of 14 bison shipped in 1925.the missing american” and the numbers quickly exploded. Thousands of them once roamed an island off the coast of Southern California. Report SFGate.
And they have also benefited tourism on the island.
As of the early 2000s, bus and Jeep tours of Catalina's interior brought in more than $4.2 million in ticket sales annually. According to the report.
However, these bison are also an invasive species and are not native to the Golden State.
Scientists say the mammal's very existence threatens Catalina Island's entire ecosystem.
Bison were designated as the country's official mammal in 2006, but they have stopped breeding and their numbers are rapidly declining.
Efforts to reduce bison populations began in the 1970s. catalina islandmany animals were transported to the mainland.
More aggressive strategies have been taken in recent years to reduce the herd to a more manageable size, including administering birth control vaccines to stabilize the female population at around 150 females. This includes:
It was thought that the vaccine's effectiveness would reverse over time, but this was not actually the case, SFGate reported.
The last bison was born on Catalina Island in 2013. Currently, about 80 remain.
Scientists don't expect Catalina Island's last bison to die for another 30 years.
